Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Former governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala
Nyako (rtd) has returned from abroad, Nyoko fled the country following his controversial impeachment by the Adamawa State House of Assembly. The returnee ex-governor, sources said decided to return to Nigerian following the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as President.
Nyako, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission over allegation of financial crimes, according to sources, is planning to meet with President Buhari.
Bornu
A bomb exploded Saturday afternoon near Maiduguri’s
main market leaving at least 13 persons dead. The explosion, it was gathered occurred by the mosque near a market in the town.
The Saturday explosion came on the heels of another blast by Boko Haram insurgents in their attempt to invade Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital, Friday, which killed 16 persons.
In the Saturday explosion, correspondent learnt that one of the insurgents joined the worshippers pretend to be one of them, but the insurgent later detonated the bomb which killed some of the worshippers and injured others.
FCT
A female politician, Dr Olubunmi Usim-Wilson, has ad
vised the President, Retired Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to cut the high cost of governance in the country.
Usim-Wilson gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. The Abuja based female politician also urged Buhari to improve the welfare of citizens. Usim-Wilson, a former Senatorial Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the FCT. appealed to incoming administration to explore areas like tourism and agriculture as ways of augmenting dwindling revenue from crude oil. She further called for youth unemployment as a priority for the government to reduce poverty .
The President should block all leakages and ensure that our common wealth is no longer stolen and frittered away by politicians. “About 80 per cent of Nigerian youths are unemployed and this should be addressed urgently; education, health and social security should be given
priority.
Gombe
The Defence Headquarters says a cordon and search
operation conducted by Nigerian troops in Gombe has led to the arrest of three bomb making experts.
Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade, said the arrested persons were suspected to be members ot the terrorists’ group, Boko Haram, in search of soft targets for attack after being dislodged from the stronghold in Sambisa forest and other enclaves.
He listed the Items recovered from those arrested to include a tricycle and materials for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
He said the suspects were currently undergoing interrogation.
“Cordon and search is continuing in certain localities and will be intensified along with mopping up operations in locations where offensive operations are being conducted.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) last Monday said that it had rescued a commercial motorcyclist, after being attacked by robbers.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado,told newsmen in Dutse that Danladi Ismai’l, 25, was rescued having sustained machete cuts.
Gidado said that Isma’il was picked from the pool of his blood, after the hoodlums stole his motorcycle and money in Kiyawa Local Government Area on Sunday.
He said that the victim was attacked while carrying one of the suspects who pretended to be a commuter going to Gwari village. He said the motorcyclist was attacked when another suspect appeared from nowhere and inflicted cuts on him.
Kwara
Kaiama Local Government Council of Kwara State has
pledged to finance the marriage of any serving female National Youth Service Corps member that marries a man from the council area.
The chairman of the council, Alhaji Alhassan Bagudu, made the pledge last Wednesday in Kaiama while receiving the 2015 Batch “A” corps members posted to the council.
Bagudu said the council would also pay 20 per cent of marriage expenses of any male NYSC member that marries a lady from the area.
The Council boss said the gesture is to foster unity in the country in line with the objective of the NYSC scheme.
He said the council would set up a farm for the corps members serving in the area to help the agrarian community boost food production.
Kaduna
A Zaria-based Non Governmental Organisation, Waje
District Development Association (WDDA) has tasked elected political leaders on executing projects that would touch the lives of the citizenry.
Malam Garba Mohammed, Chairman of the association, stated this at a town hall meeting held at Zaria Youth Centre, Tudun-Wada in Zaria.
He said the essence of the meeting was to provide a platform for dialogue between the community and political office holders representing the area.
Tracing the history of the non-political association to year 2000, Mohammed said it was established with a view to bringing unity and promoting socio-economic well-being of the people.
Lagos
A nutritionist, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, recently said one out
of every two women of reproductive age in Nigeria was anaemic as a result of iron deficiency.
Nnam, who is the National President of Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), stated this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
She said that anaemia in women, especially pregnant ones, was a serious global public health problem with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
According to her, pregnant women, other women and adolescent girls of reproductive age and children, are particularly vulnerable.
“Inadequate iron intake is dangerous to both baby and mother as it can result in severe morbidity and mortality during childbirth as well as negative pregnancy outcomes.
“This condition occurs when the concentration of haemoglobin falls below what is normal for a person’s age, gender and environment, resulting in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood being reduced.
Oyo
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals
(NUAHP) has threatened to resist attempts by the Federal Government to privatise any of its health institutions.
President of the union, Mr Obinna Ogbonna, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.
“The National Delegates Conference, recently held in Akwa Ibom, was informed about the antics of some Chief Medical Officers of health institutions, hiding under the PPP to privatise health institutions.
“Privatisation would encourage plans to sell out core clinical and professional services to their lackeys who in turn would profiteer and share such profits with the chief executives.
“This would in turn make hospital services to be out of reach of commoners and staff would be retrenched to satisfy their whims and caprices.
“All legitimate actions would be taken to see that the ongoing PPP as being negatively implemented are resisted and prevented from seeing the light of day,” he said. Ogbonna, however, congratulated the President. Muhammadu Buhari, advising him to cautiously constitute his cabinet; especially that of the health sector.
He advised him against appointing a medical doctor as a health minister, adding that this had always led to serious industrial crises in the past.
“The Federal Government in 1985 appointed Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti as the health minister and the practice had continued till 2014 when Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu was similarly appointed.
“Having made members of the Nigeria Medical Association ministers of health to date, we strongly canvass that members of the Allied Health Professionals be appointed into that post,” he said.
Plateau
Outgone Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang begged for
forgiveness from the people of the state that he might have offended during his eight-year tenure.
Making the appeal in a state broadcast mark the end of his administration as governor, Jang said that governance was about decision making.
“In the course of this, we might by commission or omission done wrong to some.
“I hereby on behalf of the outgoing government apologies to all and pray we continue to have favour in your hearts.
“As l look back too, there were painful and bitter moments, happy and sweet times, rough and tough points challenges and conquests, all these and more, we pulled through together.
“This administration is eternally grateful for support without which we would’t have made these modest strides,” he said. According to him, the administration came in with great ambition to change the history and face of the state, but was limited by lack of resources and other competing demands.
R-L: Director of Finance, Federal Radio Corpoaration of Nigeria (Frcn), Pastor Michael Oluwole; Executive Director, News Agency of Nigeria (Nan), Mr Isaac Ighure and Chaplain, Frcn, Pastor Emmanuel Zakari, at a Thanksgiving Service for peaceful conduct of 2015 General Elections by parastatals of the Ministry of Information Abuja recently.
The Presiding Bishop of Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, Bishop Victor Uzosike, has described love as the bedrock of human existence, family stability and societal harmony, stressing that without love, nothing meaningful can thrive.
Bishop Uzosike made this assertion while speaking to journalists during the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Praise Uzosike, to Architect Chibuzor Akubueze on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The solemnisation was held at the Kingdom Life Gospel Ministries Outreach, Port Harcourt, and was attended by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.
According to the cleric, love is not only the foundation of relationships but also a powerful force that determines the success of individuals, families and communities.
“If you do not love a place, that place will not bless you. If you do not love your children, they will not be useful to you. If you do not love your family, your family will become a strange island to you. What you do not love, you do not have. Love is the key,” he said.
Reflecting on his family’s journey, Bishop Uzosike said God’s love had sustained them through seasons of challenges and triumphs, noting that unity had remained their greatest strength.
“We have stayed together as one family. God has shown us love in miraculous and mysterious ways, especially during difficult times,” he stated.
Describing the wedding as an amazing and beautiful experience, the bishop expressed appreciation for the show of love from his daughter’s friends, many of whom travelled from the United Kingdom and Ghana to attend the ceremony. He revealed that some of them personally paid for their flights and accommodation, which he described as a rare display of genuine friendship.
He also disclosed that his first daughter, who lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, with her husband, could not attend the wedding due to tight schedules, but noted that she remains happily married and fulfilled.
While thanking guests for honouring his family with their presence, prayers and goodwill, Bishop Uzosike said he felt proud and grateful to God.
“One of the greatest gifts God can give to a man is children who are sound in all ramifications. My children can see, hear, speak and walk. That alone is enough reason to be grateful,” he said.
He praised the bride, describing Praise as an exceptional achiever who had distinguished herself academically. According to him, she completed secondary school at 15, graduated with First Class honours at 19, and earned distinctions in her MBA as well as her first and second master’s degrees.
“For a long time, people believed that highly educated women may not marry early or at all. Today, Praise has proved otherwise. She has made her mother and me very proud,” he said, describing her as a rare gem.
Bishop Uzosike also expressed joy over his son-in-law, whom he described as God-fearing, disciplined and professionally sound.
“He is well brought up, passionate about God and morally upright. His parents did a great job. My wife, Pastor Esther, also did an excellent job,” he added.
The wedding ceremony attracted prominent personalities, including the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemeyie; and several senior clerics.
Bishop Fidelis Ugbong officiated the solemnisation, while Apostle Chika Onuzo delivered the sermon, identifying communication, sex and money as key factors that can strengthen or weaken marriages.
Prof. Ngozi Odu also prayed for the couple and paid glowing tributes, drawing admiration from attendees.
The reception, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Port Harcourt, was equally colourful. Justice Matilda Ayemeyie proposed the toast, describing marriage as not always a bed of roses and emphasising patience, commitment and understanding.
The event was chaired by Chief Henry Nwabugo and attended by notable personalities, including retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili; Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey; Hon. Otunba Jumbo; Nze Best Anele; and Prof. Henry Ogiri, among others.
Guests were entertained with dance performances by the couple, while the parents’ outing added elegance to the celebration. The master of ceremonies, Ambassador Kingsley, kept the audience engaged with humour and interactive sessions.
Overall, the wedding was a remarkable blend of spirituality, culture and celebration, marked by love, joy and unforgettable moments.
Nation
2027: APC Chieftain Predicts Tinubu’s Victory …Says Bayelsa Stakeholders Supporting President en masse … IPAC Knitted Together, Working In Synergy With His Office
Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC), in Bayelsa State and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Inter-Party Relations, Dr Jackson Ebi Suokiri has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would secure landslide win in the 2027 Presidential polls.
The Governor’s Aide stated this in Yenagoa, the state capital on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen against the backdrop of Tuesday’s pioneer Stakeholders meeting of the party convened by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri as leader of the Party in the State upon his recent defection late last year.
He averred that Party stakeholders in the state were prepared to give the President the massive support needed to return elected, come 2027 following his sterling trajectory of performance and qualitative leadership prowess.
Dr Suokiri stressed that the reason for the governor’s swapping of party was in the best interest of the state, while also noting that the governor took the right decision as there was no need continuing with opposition politics even as the state has to align with the national government for rapid socioeconomic and political advantages for the state and its people.
“Governor Diri’s defection like you’ve personally heard him saying was for the best interest of our state, Bayelsa. When you’ve a President performing well at the national level and being very supportive to your state as a governor, I don’t think you’ve to be in an opposition party anymore, but rather align with the centre.
“Diri is a bridge builder. He is at peace with everybody and willing to work with all, irrespective of party affiliations or political differences for the interest of the state.
“As Stakeholders we’ve resolved to collectively work to return President Tinubu elected for second term in 2027. And you can see the Governor is not pressuring anybody or the structure of his former party, the PDP to defect like he has done.
“The PDP structure in the state is still intact, and for the APC, his new Party even as current leader in the State, he has been working with the structure and everybody he met on ground, hence you can see that the APC Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Dennis Otiotio has been maintained at the pioneer Stakeholders meeting convened by the Governor.
“But you must also know like you’ve seen and I’ve previously said that Governor Diri has outperformed expectations of Bayelsans in all sectors, be it economy, infrastructure, health, education, etc.”, he said.
Meanwhile, as against insinuations that some political parties were not working with the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter-Party Relations, the Governor’s Aide has revealed that as it were currently, all the 19 registered political parties with presence in the state are working in unity with his office as members of the Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).
“IPAC is working in unity with my office. Before the Governor’s defection the only party that wasn’t working with my office was the APC. But since after his formal defection, the APC and even those other parties that were either sympathetic to the APC, the governor’s new party or the PDP, his former Party are all now working together with my office as members of IPAC”, Suokiri added.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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